The Karaka Tower, designed by New Zealand-based ARÊTE Architects, is a nine-square-meter prefabricated timber annex that acts as a secluded extension to an existing 1970s home. Situated on a steep, heavily vegetated hillside in Eastbourne, Wellington, the tower provides a new bedroom and art studio for a growing family. The design is celebrated for its innovation in overcoming a difficult site and its intimate connection with the native bush. The project's architectural concept was heavily influenced by its challenging location, which was only accessible by foot. The modular construction and use of a helicopter to lift the prefabricated components onto the site in a single day minimized disruption to the neighbors and the delicate environment. The tower is clad in untreated stringybark eucalyptus, chosen for its hard-wearing properties and its ability to weather and grey over time, blending harmoniously with the surrounding tree trunks. In contrast to the rugged exterior, the interior is warm and inviting. The exposed cypress wood frame is a key design feature, evocative of a "childhood treehouse". The joinery is dominated by pine and cypress, waxed with beeswax sourced from the site. A polycarbonate and cypress wood corridor links the tower to the main house, resembling a treehouse bridge and filtering daylight softly into the interior.

Rooftop terrace: A roof garden sits atop the tower, providing a rare flat surface on the steep site and offering sweeping views of the harbor. The compact design features a mezzanine bedroom on the ground level, while an art studio occupies the top floor, with large sliding windows that provide stunning views of Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington Harbour).

Awards and recognition The innovative and context-sensitive design of the Karaka Tower has garnered international recognition: ICONIC AWARDS 2025: Winner in the architecture category. Dezeen Awards 2024: Shortlisted in the House Renovation category.

Credits Architects: ARÊTE Architects Studio Founder: Sam Brown Fabrication: Makers Fabrication Photography: Thomas Seear-Budd Client: Nick Jensen Roofing: Viking Roofspec